Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-11-12
Fruits as Food and Medicine.

- <iWtIttdH NHttCutOT-
Fruits as Food and Medicine.
OF all the fruits with which we are
blessed the peach is the most delicious
and digcstible There is nothing more
paIatable, wholesome and medicinal
than good ripe peaches. They should
be ripe, but not over ripe and half rot
ton; and of this kind they may make
part Of either meal, or be eaten be-
tween meals; but it is better to make
them part of the regular meals. 1t is
mistaken idea that no fruit shculd be
eaten at breakfast 1t would be better
To eat less bacon and grease at break
fast and more fruit. In the morning
there is an ac.d state of the secretions
and nothing is so well calculated TO
correct this aS cooling, sub-acid fruit,
such as peaches, apples, etc. Still.
most of us nave been taught that eat
ing fruit before breakfast is highly
dangerous How the idea originated
| do not know. but it is certainly
great error, contrary TO both reason
and facts.
The apple is one of the best of fruits.
Baked or stewed apples will generally
| agree with the most delicate stomach.
and are an excellent medicine in many
! cases of sickness. Green or half-ripe
| apples stewed and sweetened are pleas
ant to the taste, cooling, nourishing and
laxative. far superior, ih many cases.
| to the abominable doses of. salts and
oil usually given in fever and other
diseases; raw apples and dried apples
for constipation are better than liver
pills.
Oranges are very acceptable to most
stomachs. having all the advantages
of the acid alluded to; but the orange
juice alone should be taken, rejecting
the pulp.
The same NAV be said of lemons,
pomegranates, and all that class.
Lemonade is the best drink in fevers,
and when thickened with sugar Is
better than syrup of squills and other
nauseoas things in many cases OF
cough.
Tomatoes act on the liver and
bowels, and are much more pleasant
and safe than blue mass and oliver
regulators" The juice should be used
alone, rejecting the skin.
LII
blackberries. figs. raspberries, currants
and strawberries, may be classed
among the best foods and medicines.
The sugar in them is nutritious, the
acid is cooling and purifying, and tho
seeds are laxative.
We should be much the gamer il we
would look more to our orchards and
gardens for our med cnes, and less to
our drug store. To cure fever or act
on the kidneys, no febrifuge or duretlc
is superior to watermelon. which may,
with very few exceptions. be taken in
sickness and health in almost unlimited
quantities, not only without injury. but
with positive benefit. But in using
them the water or juice should be
taken, excluding the pulp; the melon
should be fresh and ripe, but not over
ripe and stale.
1t is curious, but true, that the tables
of the day laborer in town, who does
not own foot of land, and whom the
country man contemptuously declares
"lives from hand to mouth" is more
bountlfuly supplied with vegetables
and fruit than that of the farmer in the
midst of his broad acres. The latter
gives variety of excuses for his neg
lect; and at a neighoor's with his
mouth full of his second help of deli
cious green peas, will declare a garden
don't pay" and as he backs up his
plate for another quarter-section OF
strawberry short-cake, will wonder
how his host can find time to ''potter
with small fruit" regardless of or in
different to the fact that no acre OF his
farm will yield so much good living.
and do so much to promote his health
and happiness. as quarter-acre gar
den spot intelligently tended.
Even so small an area has infinite
possibilities to be developed into a rich
reward when we are educated up to
the right standard; that thinking which
leads us to seek less to hoard money
for possible 'rainy day." than to en-
JOY life's pleasures and privileges every
, day. -PrdcticdL Farmer.